Approximately 5 years ago, i had the privilege to be placed as a fellow under the tutelage of YB Nancy Shukri, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
Unlike some other ministers who will only appear once a month, YB was present almost every day. She's always up for a chat on governance & politics. She'll always lecture me on the need to be work-oriented & focus less on politics. As a minister from Sarawak, YB is always fond of engaging in discussions on National Unity.
Whenever i say that Semenanjung should be more like Sarawak when it comes to National Unity, she'll retort by saying that we have the ingredients for National Unity but have yet to put it to good use.
I always felt at home when i follow her to Sarawak. Thus why up until today i say that Sarawak is my second home after Johor.
Truly, Unity in the face of diversity.
Fast forward, 2 years later i was given the privilege to be hired as her temporary special officer (based on the offer letter). I did my LAP under her as well.
2 months in, Malaysia was hit with the #1MDB atomic bomb.
I distinctly remember defending DS Najib at the beginning. Even to the extent of convincing my parents that this is Tun M's power play.
I was wrong. After some in depth research with the strings of revelations from WSJ/Tun M/Tony Pua/Rafizi/SR/The edge, accompanied with the sacking of dissenters & supression of the basic democratic rights, i concluded that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I first wrote an open letter which went viral.
I then continously spoke up on this matter while being under YB Nancy's office.
After the letter went viral, YB called for a meeting the next day. I thought, "that's it. I'll be fired".
I knew the consequences of my action, but i pushed through with it as i didn't want to be a complicit in the whole scheme of things. I knew that if i had stayed quiet, i'd be betraying my nation and my moral conscience.
When i met YB, she looked very calm&steady.
She asked me why i did what i did & i answered.
In the end we agreed to disagree. It's rare to see this culture in Malaysia. It's always "do as i say of get out". Alhamdulillah YB is never like that.
She didn't fire me nor did she "anak tiri" me.
I stopped working out of my own volition earlier than expected as i didn't want to put anymore pressure on her.
The fact that she didn't use force to discipline me is truly refreshing. If only more ministers were like her, we would be in a different Malaysia. A better Malausia.
Up until today i still see her as a mother-figure. Despite being in different political camps, our bond withstood the testing times.
Today she was awarded the Darjah Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP) which brings the title "Datuk seri".
Congratulations YB. You deserve it.
but to me, you are more than a title.
You'll always be the motherly-figure who was there for me through thick and thin.
You're one of a kind.
Yours Truly,
Syed Saddiq
(Photo taken in 2012)
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